Tag Archives: Medical

For her dedication to her job and work with veterans, Terrie Alford was recently named the Nurse of the Year for Bill Nichols State Veterans Home.

Alford received the Heritage Award Nurse of the Year for HMR Veterans Services.

Alford, a Central Alabama Community College graduate who’s worked as a nurse since 2005, said she’s very honored to receive the award for a job she truly enjoys.

“I love my job. I have 25 residents – they’re all veterans,” Alford said. “I work on the third floor. It’s very rewarding. You get to know your families and your residents very well in that period of time.”

Alford cares for veterans age 60 and up, and said one of the things she enjoys most is the bond she develops with her residents.

“With my guys, most of them come here and it’s the last place they go. I feel like my job is to make the best of that time for them, whether it’s one day or ten years,” Alford said. “It’s very rewarding. You get to know your residents, your families and you feel like a part of their families. It’s not just a job – it’s more like a family.”

While seeing a resident pass away is Alford’s least favorite thing to see on the job, she said she focuses on her duty and repaying the service that veterans have given to us all.

“I guess the best part is feeling like I’m there to take care of them. Some of them don’t have families, and some of them don’t have visitors. They look at us as their family,” Alford said. “I like being able to provide that service for them because they served us, so now we’re there to take care of them.”

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — A small American flag lay on each of the dozens of chairs set up under the front portico in preparation of the annual William F. Green Veterans Home Veterans Day Program held this morning in Bay Minette.

Sewn to the plastic stick supporting the tiny flag was a simple phrase, “I am grateful for your service and sacrifice to freedom and our county.”

Beneath the phase on the tiny flag sitting in my seat was a neatly written signature in black ink – “Fern Frishman.”

Under that, in a space designated for Ms. Frishman’s hometown and state, she had simply scrawled “Illinois” in her neat cursive handwriting.

The call to honor the nation’s veterans as Fern Frishman from Illinois had done was part of her participation in the Non Commissioned Officers Association’s National Defense Foundation program that each year distributes the flags to Bay Minette and other cities and towns across the country.

Began as a program honoring veterans living at the William F. Green facility, whose numbers now stand at 150 from all five branches of the military and including three women, the annual program has grown to attract veterans of foreign wars from across the region.

Nancy Ellsworth holds her father Joe Ellsworth’s hand during the William F. Green Veterans Home Veterans Day program held Friday in Bay Minette. Joe Ellsworth is a World War II veteran and resident at the home. (Courtesy of Don Westwood)
Jeff Dute | jdute@al.com

While speeches by retired Army Col. David Reaney, who is the executive director of the Bay Area Food Bank and retired Rear Admiral W. Clyde Marsh, the current Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs commissioner, in their own way paid homage to veterans of all wars, the most poignant moments occurred in between.

It is often easy to forget that Veterans Day is meant to honor the sacrifices of the living as well as the dead.

That was brought home as members of the Baldwin County High School JRROTC laid a wreath in memory of veterans who died in battle or across the passage of time.

Members of the Honor Fire Detail from the P.L. Wilson Detachment of the Marine Corps League fired several volleys and Alabama Rep. Randy Davis, who is an associate professor of music at the University of Mobile, played a stirring rendition of taps.

As Davis’ trumpet sounded the mournful honorarium, the meaning of each note was obvious on the veterans’ faces — many of them and a number of the other hundred or so in attendance lowered their eyes.

All of the veterans on hand were given pins designating the country’s thanks for their service and certificates denoting its appreciation.

While the pins and papers were being distributed, the fight songs from each branch of the military were played. Before the music began, military attendees were encouraged to stand as their branch’s song was played.

Some stood more easily than others and many of the older veterans could not stand at all, their advanced age confining them to wheelchairs.

Still, those who could did stand and with a dignified countenance rock-solid with the obvious pride in their service to the nation shining bright in their eyes.

It was not hard to spot more than a few tears leaking slowly from the eyes of veterans and their families as the music played.

During his closing address, William F. Green Veterans Home Executive Director Brian McFeely thanked everyone for helping to make the program a success.

He then turned his attention to the veterans, reiterating the nation’s well-deserved thanks and appreciation of and for their service as exemplified through Veterans Day.

The Vietnam War marked a time of social unrest that divided our nation like never before. Service members returning home with physical and emotional scars were greeted with an unprecedented level of disrespect and dishonor. The courage and sacrifice of our veterans cannot be overstated. When you encounter them, thank them for their service. You never know how powerful those words may be.

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — The Floyd E. “Tut” Fann State Veterans Home is celebrating its 17th year today by hosting a “Family Day”with some special events and guests.
Guest speakers for residents and families this morning were to include retired Army Brig. Gen. Bob Drolet, co-chairman of the Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial Board, and David Fann, son of the World War II veteran for whom the home at 2701 Meridian St. is named.

“Tut” Fann was a Huntsville native who served as a tank crewman during World War II and was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge. Upon his return to Huntsville, Fann became very involved in veterans organizations and efforts to support those who have served. Among other activities, Fann was a member of the State Board of Veterans Affairs and State Commander of the American Legion, according to a biography available from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs web site.
“Before his death on April 17, 1992, Tut Fann was working diligently to establish a state veterans’ home in Huntsville so veterans in his hometown could receive medical care without moving far away from family and friends,” according to the site. “When the home was built in 1995, the State Board of Veterans Affairs approved the naming of the home the Floyd E. ‘Tut’ Fann Veterans Home.”

Representatives of the Huntsville Madison County Veteran’s Memorial will be at the Family Day Celebration collecting memorabilia from the Veteran’s Home residents and their families. These will be placed in the veteran’s memorial Time Capsule, which is to be buried at the memorial in November.

Memorial officials said all citizens of Madison County will also be able to contribute items for the capsule on Sept. 15 and 22 at Smith Storage, at the corner of Cook Avenue and Church Street in Huntsville. Information on additional collection dates will be announced.

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — A small American flag lay on each of the dozens of chairs set up under the front portico in preparation of the annual William F. Green Veterans Home Veterans Day Program held this morning in Bay Minette.

Sewn to the plastic stick supporting the tiny flag was a simple phrase, “I am grateful for your service and sacrifice to freedom and our county.”

Beneath the phase on the tiny flag sitting in my seat was a neatly written signature in black ink – “Fern Frishman.”

Under that, in a space designated for Ms. Frishman’s hometown and state, she had simply scrawled “Illinois” in her neat cursive handwriting.

The call to honor the nation’s veterans as Fern Frishman from Illinois had done was part of her participation in the Non Commissioned Officers Association’s National Defense Foundation program that each year distributes the flags to Bay Minette and other cities and towns across the country.

Began as a program honoring veterans living at the William F. Green facility, whose numbers now stand at 150 from all five branches of the military and including three women, the annual program has grown to attract veterans of foreign wars from across the region.

Nancy Ellsworth holds her father Joe Ellsworth’s hand during the William F. Green Veterans Home Veterans Day program held Friday in Bay Minette. Joe Ellsworth is a World War II veteran and resident at the home. (Courtesy of Don Westwood)
Jeff Dute | jdute@al.com

While speeches by retired Army Col. David Reaney, who is the executive director of the Bay Area Food Bank and retired Rear Admiral W. Clyde Marsh, the current Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs commissioner, in their own way paid homage to veterans of all wars, the most poignant moments occurred in between.

It is often easy to forget that Veterans Day is meant to honor the sacrifices of the living as well as the dead.

That was brought home as members of the Baldwin County High School JRROTC laid a wreath in memory of veterans who died in battle or across the passage of time.

Members of the Honor Fire Detail from the P.L. Wilson Detachment of the Marine Corps League fired several volleys and Alabama Rep. Randy Davis, who is an associate professor of music at the University of Mobile, played a stirring rendition of taps.

As Davis’ trumpet sounded the mournful honorarium, the meaning of each note was obvious on the veterans’ faces — many of them and a number of the other hundred or so in attendance lowered their eyes.

All of the veterans on hand were given pins designating the country’s thanks for their service and certificates denoting its appreciation.

While the pins and papers were being distributed, the fight songs from each branch of the military were played. Before the music began, military attendees were encouraged to stand as their branch’s song was played.

Some stood more easily than others and many of the older veterans could not stand at all, their advanced age confining them to wheelchairs.

Still, those who could did stand and with a dignified countenance rock-solid with the obvious pride in their service to the nation shining bright in their eyes.

It was not hard to spot more than a few tears leaking slowly from the eyes of veterans and their families as the music played.

During his closing address, William F. Green Veterans Home Executive Director Brian McFeely thanked everyone for helping to make the program a success.

He then turned his attention to the veterans, reiterating the nation’s well-deserved thanks and appreciation of and for their service as exemplified through Veterans Day.